One or multiple bit restricted access window (RAW) end point determination for single user, multiple user, multiple access, and/or MIMO wireless communications

Abstract

One or multiple bit restricted access window (RAW) end point determination within for single user, multiple user, multiple access, and/or MIMO wireless communications. A RAW is defined in which only devices of the particular class (e.g., low power class, Z class, smart meter station (SMSTA) class, etc.) are allowed access to the communication medium. Indication of the end of such a RAW may be included within one or more bits set within a signal field (SIG) field of a framer packet generated by a given device within the system and transmitted to one or more other devices. After completion of the RAW, other respective devices of at least one other type of class may be provided access to the communication medium. The manner of access to the communication media outside of the RAW may be varied (e.g., scheduled, based on carrier sense multiple access/collision avoidance (CSMA/CA), etc.).

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A wireless communication device comprising:
 a communication interface; and 
 a processor, the processor and the communication interface configured to:
 generate a frame that includes a field having at least one bit set therein to indicate restricted access for at least one other wireless communication device and no other wireless communication device to a communication medium during at least one time period; 
 transmit the frame to the at least one other wireless communication device; and 
 receive at least one communication from the at least one other wireless communication device during the at least one time period. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The wireless communication device of  claim 1 , wherein the processor and the communication interface are further configured to:
 generate the frame that includes the field having the at least one bit set therein to indicate the restricted access for a first other wireless communication device of the at least one other wireless communication device during a first time period of the at least one time period and to indicate the restricted access for a second other wireless communication device of the at least one other wireless communication device during a second time period of the at least one time period; 
 receive a first communication from the first other wireless communication device during the first time period; and 
 receive a second communication from the second other wireless communication device during the second time period. 
 
     
     
       3. The wireless communication device of  claim 1 , wherein at least one additional wireless communication device has access to the communication medium based on carrier sense multiple access/collision avoidance (CSMA/CA) after the at least one time period, and wherein the processor and the communication interface are further configured to:
 receive at least one additional communication from the at least one additional wireless communication device after the at least one time period. 
 
     
     
       4. The wireless communication device of  claim 3 , wherein:
 the at least one other wireless communication device belongs to a first class that includes at least one smart meter station (SMSTA); and 
 the at least one additional wireless communication device belongs to a second class that includes at least one wireless station (STA). 
 
     
     
       5. The wireless communication device of  claim 1 , wherein the field is a signal field (SIG) having the at least one bit set therein to indicate the restricted access for the at least one other wireless communication device and the no other wireless communication device to the communication medium during the at least one time period. 
     
     
       6. The wireless communication device of  claim 1 , wherein the processor and the communication interface are further configured to:
 receive at least one additional communication from at least one additional wireless communication device within the at least one time period after receipt of the at least one communication from the at least one other wireless communication device during the at least one time period, wherein the at least one other wireless communication device belongs to a first class and the at least one additional wireless communication device belongs to a second class. 
 
     
     
       7. The wireless communication device of  claim 1 , wherein the processor and the communication interface are further configured to:
 generate, after receipt of the at least one communication from the at least one other wireless communication device during the at least one time period, another frame that includes another field having at least one additional bit set therein to indicate end of the restricted access for the at least one other wireless communication device to the communication medium during the at least one time period; 
 transmit the another frame to the at least one other wireless communication device; and 
 receive at least one additional communication from at least one additional wireless communication device. 
 
     
     
       8. The wireless communication device of  claim 1  further comprising:
 an access point (AP), wherein the at least one other wireless communication device includes a wireless station (STA). 
 
     
     
       9. A wireless communication device comprising:
 a communication interface; and 
 a processor, the processor and communication interface configured to:
 receive a frame, from another wireless communication device, that includes a field having at least one bit set therein to indicate restricted access for at least one other wireless communication device and no other wireless communication device to a communication medium during at least one time period; 
 process the frame to determine whether the wireless communication device is included within the at least one other wireless communication device as indicated within the frame; 
 transmit at least one communication to the another wireless communication device during the at least one time period based on determination that the wireless communication device is included within the at least one other wireless communication device as indicated within the frame; and 
 transmit the at least one communication to the another wireless communication device after the at least one time period based on determination that the wireless communication device is not included within the at least one other wireless communication device as indicated within the frame. 
 
 
     
     
       10. The wireless communication device of  claim 9 , wherein:
 the wireless communication device belongs to a first class that includes at least one smart meter station (SMSTA); and 
 at least one additional wireless communication device within the at least one other wireless communication device indicated within the frame belongs to a second class that includes at least one wireless station (STA). 
 
     
     
       11. The wireless communication device of  claim 9 , wherein the field is a signal field (SIG) having the at least one bit set therein to indicate the restricted access for the at least one other wireless communication device to the communication medium during the at least one time period. 
     
     
       12. The wireless communication device of  claim 9 , wherein the processor and the communication interface are further configured to:
 transmit at least one additional communication to the another wireless communication device based on determination that the wireless communication device is not included within the at least one other wireless communication device as indicated within the frame and based on determination that the at least one other wireless communication device has completed at least one transmission to the another wireless communication device within the at least one time period. 
 
     
     
       13. The wireless communication device of  claim 9  further comprising:
 a wireless station (STA), wherein the another wireless communication device includes an access point (AP). 
 
     
     
       14. A method for execution by a wireless communication device, the method comprising:
 generating a frame that includes a field having at least one bit set therein to indicate restricted access for at least one other wireless communication device and no other wireless communication device to a communication medium during at least one time period; 
 transmitting, via a communication interface of the wireless communication device, the frame to the at least one other wireless communication device; and 
 receiving, via the communication interface of the wireless communication device, at least one communication from the at least one other wireless communication device during the at least one time period. 
 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 14  further comprising:
 generating the frame that includes the field having the at least one bit set therein to indicate the restricted access for a first other wireless communication device of the at least one other wireless communication device during a first time period of the at least one time period and to indicate the restricted access for a second other wireless communication device of the at least one other wireless communication device during a second time period of the at least one time period; 
 receiving a first communication from the first other wireless communication device during the first time period; and 
 receiving a second communication from the second other wireless communication device during the second time period. 
 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 14 , wherein at least one additional wireless communication device has access to the communication medium based on carrier sense multiple access/collision avoidance (CSMA/CA) after the at least one time period, and further comprising:
 receiving at least one additional communication from the at least one additional wireless communication device after the at least one time period. 
 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 16 , wherein:
 the at least one other wireless communication device belongs to a first class that includes at least one smart meter station (SMSTA); and 
 the at least one additional wireless communication device belongs to a second class that includes at least one wireless station (STA). 
 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 14 , wherein the field is a signal field (SIG) having the at least one bit set therein to indicate the restricted access for the at least one other wireless communication device and no other wireless communication device to the communication medium during the at least one time period. 
     
     
       19. The method of  claim 14  further comprising:
 receiving at least one additional communication from at least one additional wireless communication device within the at least one time period after receipt of the at least one communication from the at least one other wireless communication device during the at least one time period, wherein the at least one other wireless communication device belongs to a first class and the at least one additional wireless communication device belongs to a second class. 
 
     
     
       20. The method of  claim 14  further comprising:
 generating, after receipt of the at least one communication from the at least one other wireless communication device during the at least one time period, another frame that includes another field having at least one additional bit set therein to indicate end of the restricted access for the at least one other wireless communication device to the communication medium during the at least one time period; 
 transmitting the another frame to the at least one other wireless communication device; and 
 receiving at least one additional communication from at least one additional wireless communication device.